Dolphins and Human Flourishing: A Novel Application of the PERMA Model

Abstract

Humans and nonhuman animals belong to a network of living things that have existed and interacted for millennia. The Biophilia hypothesis highlights the innate human need for nature contact and connection to ensure human well-being. Evidence suggests that contact with nature and its components, including animals, can both enhance well-being and encourage human concern for nature. The current study details the human wellbeing impact of animals, specifically dolphins. Exploration of eight key informant narratives examined the research question, ''How do interactions with wild dolphins affect human wellbeing?'' Analyses reveal various subthemes clustered into five main themes: Connectedness, Relationships, and Reciprocity; Emotion and Aliveness; Meaning and Making Sense; Accomplishment and Intention; and Harmony and Engagement. There are strong parallels between the identified themes and Seligman's PERMA model. Interpretation of how wildlife experiences benefit humans concluded that the features of life necessary for human flourishing also characterize people's experience with wild dolphins. Practical implications for well-being benefits include health practitioner use of ''nature prescriptions'' and ''wildlife prescriptions,'' which may in turn foster a sense of responsibility and care for nature. However, the parallel dolphin well-being needs to be considered and a balanced and ecocentric view achieved. These areas warrant further research.

Human–Animal Interactions: Expressions of Wellbeing through a “Nature Language”

“…The study provided evidence for the proposition that when humans interact with animals in nature, they describe that their mental health and wellbeing is enhanced, supporting previous research on the topic [ 13 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 27 ]. In illustrating how marine animal interactions affected their nature connection, participants described psychological outcomes indicative of mental health benefits.…”

“…However, the results regarding companion animals and human mental health are far from conclusive [ 18 ]. An emerging area of HAI research is the human mental health benefits of interactions between humans and wildlife [ 13 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 ]. As has been discussed elsewhere [ 20 ] interactions with wildlife can benefit human wellbeing by contributing to positive emotions, engagement, relationships and connection, meaning, achievement and also an ecocentric perspective [ 13 ].…”

“…An emerging area of HAI research is the human mental health benefits of interactions between humans and wildlife [ 13 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 ]. As has been discussed elsewhere [ 20 ] interactions with wildlife can benefit human wellbeing by contributing to positive emotions, engagement, relationships and connection, meaning, achievement and also an ecocentric perspective [ 13 ]. In particular, moving towards reciprocal benefits as evidenced by environmental behaviors may be enhanced by marine wildlife experiences [ 24 ].…”

Marine Wildlife Experiences and Beliefs: Towards Reciprocal Benefits

“…Immersion in the natural world, such as interacting with marine wildlife, provides many human benefits. While we and others have demonstrated how wildlife interactions benefit human well-being (Curtin, 2009;Weiler, Ham, & Smith, 2011;Yerbury & Boyd, 2019), it is more difficult to show how nature and wildlife may also benefit. The beliefs that people hold are important to consider because they may provide clues about how people will interact with nature and whether certain beliefs can lead towards mutually beneficial outcomes.…”

“…Mutual connection with nature and marine wildlife can be felt and experienced via feelings of engagement and understanding, and through behaviors such as touch, eye contact, and swimming in sync (DeMares, 2000;Yerbury & Boyd, 2019). Thus the co-creation of experiences with wildlife is an example of reciprocal interactions (Bertella, Fumagalli, & Williams-Grey, 2019;Campos, Mendes, O'om do Vale, & Scott, 2017).…”